Mandatory Annual Reporting for Himachal Private Educational Institutions Proposed

A Bill was introduced to mandate the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission to submit annual reports and audited accounts to the assembly. The existing law mandates activity reports but not financial accounts. Proposed amendments aim to close this gap and bring transparency in private university financial records.

A Bill mandating the submission of annual reports and audited accounts by the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission was tabled in the assembly on Thursday.

Introduced by Education Minister Rohit Thakur, the proposed amendment to the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Bill aims to address the lack of a provision for tabling annual financial reports of regulated private universities.

The amendments cover 16 Acts under which private universities were established, requiring the submission of these annual accounts to both the commission and the government for assembly review. These accounts, including balance sheets, will be audited annually and submitted as per the boards of management's directions.

(With inputs from agencies.)